SHARJAH: It almost was his night. Shahid Afridi finally regained his six-hitting ability as he took Peshawar Zalmi agonisingly close to victory against Karachi Kings from a seemingly impossible situation in a HBL Pakistan Super League thriller.
A packed crowd at the Sharjah cricket stadium was treated to some exciting batting by Afridi and his captain Darren Sammy as the senior duo lifted Peshawar from 69-6 to within striking distance of what would have been a memorable win.
However, in the end Peshawar fell short by nine runs in their chase of Karachi’s 175.
Peshawar’s top-order that just a night before fell to 78-6 again failed, with just 69 on the board by the time their sixth wicket was taken on Sunday.
At that stage, it looked as if Karachi would romp to victory but for a magnificent 70-run partnership between Afridi and Sammy from just 40 balls.
Sammy fell in the 18th over, before Afridi took the game into its final over. Needing 18 from it, Afridi scored eight from the first three balls, including a monster six to bring up his fifty but he perished next ball for 54 from 28 balls.
It was inspired stuff from the former Pakistan captain, when defeat looked a convincing formality by the time he reached the crease but was only felt by nine runs by the close.
Karachi’s 21-year old legspinner Usama Mir held his nerve in a brave final over and was rewarded with two wickets as Peshawar were bowled out with a ball to spare.
It didn’t look like Peshawar would have to chase that many, especially when Karachi’s innings threatened to unravel after a promising opening partnership between Kumar Sangakkara (28) and Babar Azam (46). A key partnership late on between veterans Ravi Bopara and Shoaib Malik (51 not out) got them back on track, and after Bopara’s dismissal, Malik flew through the gears, racing from 16 off 13 to finish unbeaten on 51 from 27 balls. It was just as well for his side, who, incredulously, needed every one of those runs in the end.
This win, Karachi’s second on the bounce, lifts them off the bottom based on their superior net run rate to Lahore Qalanders, now occupy that unwanted fifth spot despite both teams being level on four points. Peshawar Zalmi remain third on five points. –with inputs from agencies
Score Board
Peshawar Zalmi won toss
Karachi Kings
Babar Azam c Hasan b Shakib 46
*†K C Sangakkara c Hasan b Iftikhar 28
C H Gayle c Morgan b Iftikhar 11
Shoaib Malik not out 51
R S Bopara c Sohaib b Imran 30
K A Pollard not out 4
Extras (lb 4) 4
Total (4 wickets; 20 overs) 174
Did not bat: Imad Wasim, Sohail Khan, M Amir, Usama Mir, Usman Khan
Fall: 1-72, 2-75, 3-90, 4-134
Bowling: Hasan 3-0-32-0; Wahab 4-0-32-0; Shakib 2-0-14-1; Imran (1) 4-0-42-1; Sammy 1-0-16-0; Shahid 4-0-26-0; Iftikhar 2-0-8-2
Peshawar Zalmi
Tamim Iqbal c Sangakkara b Sohail 16
†Kamran Akmal c Bopara b Sohail 14
Iftikhar Ahmed c Sangakkara b Imad 1
E J G Morgan c Bopara b Shoaib 3
Shakib Al Hasan c Bopara b Usman 18
Sohaib Maqsood c Pollard b Usman 5
*D J G Sammy c Gayle b Sohail 34
Shahid Afridi c Gayle b Usama 54
Wahab Riaz b Usman 2
Hasan Ali c Bopara b Usama 10
Imran Khan (1) not out 0
Extras (lb 6, nb 2) 8
Total (all out; 19.5 overs) 165
Fall: 1-32, 2-33, 3-33, 4-43, 5-58, 6-69, 7-139, 8-146, 9-165, 10-165
Bowling: Imad 3-0-24-1; Amir 4-0-41-0; Sohail 4-1-28-3; Usama 3.5-0-28-2; Shoaib 1-0-6-1; Usman 4-0-32-3 (2nb)
Result: Karachi Kings won by 9 runs
Points: Karachi Kings 2, Peshawar Zalmi 0
Man of the Match: Shoaib Malik
(Karachi Kings)
Umpires: Ahmed Shahab (Pakistan) and Aleem Dar (Pakistan). TV umpire: Shozab Raza (Pakistan). Match referee: M Anees (Pakistan)
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